Written Answers Wednesday 23 February 2011

Scottish Executive

Armed Forces

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether information is held centrally anent the number of properties built or adapted to rehouse disabled veterans in the last three years.

Alex Neil: The information on the number of properties built or adapted to rehouse disabled veterans is not held centrally.

Armed Forces

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are of reductions in public expenditure for those voluntary organisations and charities that deal with the care and rehabilitation of veterans.

Alex Neil: Project funding of £80,000 is being made available in 2011 to veterans’ organisations through the Scottish Veterans’ Fund. This level of funding is unchanged from previous years. More generally, the Scottish Government does not provide core funding to veterans’ organisations. Charities of this type should and do secure resources through collections, bequests, commercial activity and other forms of fund raising.

  Combat Stress is the leading charity in its field and the Scottish Government continues to provide £1.2 million per year for the provision of specialist mental health services at its Hollybush House facility in Ayr. A further £200,000 per year continues to be made available to support Combat Stress’ community outreach programme.

Climate Change

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will meet its obligations under section 71 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 regarding permitted development rights for microgeneration equipment on non-domestic properties.

Keith Brown: The Town And Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Non-Domestic Microgeneration) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2011 (SSI 2011/136), to introduce permitted development rights for microgeneration equipment on non-domestic properties, was laid in the Parliament today and can be accessed at:

  http://www.legislation.gov.uk/.

Communities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it was made aware that the auditors of the Scottish-Islamic Foundation had resigned.

Alex Neil: This is entirely a matter between the Scottish-Islamic Foundation and its auditors. There was no requirement to notify the Scottish Government.

Education

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned any (a) agencies, (b) organisations or (c) services to produce Scottish history books or books containing elements of Scottish history for young people and, if so, what the titles are; whether it provided guidelines as to the content, and what the total cost was.

Michael Russell: No such books have been commissioned by the Scottish Government. Online resources on Scotland’s History have been developed by Learning and Teaching Scotland in partnership with a wide range of organisations and professional historians.

Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted research into the levels of extracurricular reading among school-age children and, if so, when this will be made available.

Michael Russell: Scotland’s results from the Programme for International Student Assessment 2009, which surveys 15 year olds, showed that approximately 57% of respondents read for enjoyment. Highlights from Scotland’s results are published at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/12/07095656/0.

  The 2009 Scottish Survey of Achievement (SSA) results provide information on how often a sample of young people in P3, P5, P7 and S2 read outside of school, based on a pupil questionnaire. The 2009 SSA results can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/02/22135127/0.

Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38849 by Michael Russell on 17 January 2011, how much funding has been set aside for the Literacy Action Plan.

Michael Russell: The delivery of the Literacy Action Plan will take place within existing policy frameworks, including the Early Years Framework, Curriculum for Excellence, and the Adult Literacies Strategic Guidance. Delivery will build on the resource and infrastructure already in place to support these frameworks.

  We are also working with Learning and Teaching Scotland, the Scottish Qualifications Authority, and HM Inspectorate of Education, as well as partners in health, justice, social work and culture, to ensure their current and future work supports the action plan.

Education

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the level of consultation carried out by Highland Council regarding the possible effect on pupils’ education arising from the loss of classroom assistants.

Michael Russell: Highland Council is responsible for the delivery of education in its area. The employment and deployment of their staff in the delivery of that duty is a matter for the local authority. I understand that following the council meeting on 10 February 2011 Highland Council has agreed to set up a cross party group to review the level of assistance provided in primary school classrooms.

Fuel Poverty

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget of the Energy Assistance Package was in 2009-10.

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the 2009-10 Energy Assistance Package budget was spent.

Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38652 on 20 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Health

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time was to see a hearing specialist in each of the last 12 months, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on audiology services is collected on an aggregated form. Consequently, it is not possible to provide the information requested. However, information on the median wait for first appointment with a specialist is provided in the following table.

  Waiting time information for audiology services is relatively new data and is currently still under development. As the information collection system is fairly new there are data quality issues around this information and figures should be treated with caution. ISD is working with all NHS boards to improve data quality.

  NHSScotland: Median Wait for First Appointment with a Specialist for the Quarters Ending March, June, September and December 2010

  

NHS Board
March (weeks)
June (weeks)
September (weeks)
December (weeks)


Ayrshire and Arran
8
7
6
9


Borders
11
6
6
9


Dumfries and Galloway
1
3
7
12


Fife
10
8
7
7


Forth Valley
13
x
22
24


Grampian
6
7
7
7


Greater Glasgow and Clyde(a)
6
5
5
6


Highland(b)
x
11
11
12


Lanarkshire(c)
0
1
6
4


Lothian
x
x
x
5


Orkney
1
2
2
3


Shetland
4
4
8
7


Tayside(d)
x
24
23
25


Western Isles(e)
x
x
0
15



  Source: ISD Scotland.

  x data not available.

  Notes:

  (a) Clyde data is not available for January 2010 and July to December 2010 due to system issues.

  (b) Data cleansing is ongoing, please treat with caution. Paediatric figures not available for April.

  (c) Data cleansing is ongoing, please treat with caution. Adult figures not available for April 2010.

  (d) Paediatric figures not available for April 2010.

  (e) Provides audiology services for adults only.

Health

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the cost-effectiveness of homeopathy in relation to the Scottish Government’s integrative approach to patient care.

Nicola Sturgeon: In primary care, costs will relate to the cost of the remedy, which can be cheaper than the cost of orthodox drugs. Practitioners have also noted a reduction in side effects and dependency risks in some cases. In secondary care in Scotland, homoeopathy is only employed within a broader integrative care approach, with surveys showing both enhanced wellbeing and symptom reduction across a broad range of long term conditions, and a resultant reduction in NHS costs through reduced GP and hospital visits and repeat prescriptions.

Health

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers homeopathy to have a place in relation to the Scottish Government’s integrative approach to patient care.

Nicola Sturgeon: Homoeopathy can contribute to the Scottish Government’s integrative approach to patient care. We recognise that complementary or alternative therapies, including homoeopathy, may offer relief to some people suffering from a wide variety of conditions. Insights from the individualised homoeopathic approach have contributed to the work of the Centre for Integrative Care in Glasgow, which has also learned from the earlier work of the Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital. The emergence of integrative principles has in turn helped contribute to the current emphasis in our quality strategy on person centred care, and on enabling partnerships with patients through empathetic consultations.

Health

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37848 by Nicola Sturgeon on 25 November 2010, what its position is on whether the withdrawal of homeopathic services in NHS Lothian is consistent with "person-centredness and compassion" and "a holistic approach to people’s healthcare needs."

Nicola Sturgeon: My understanding is that NHS Lothian has not taken a final decision about the future of local homoeopathic services. I have made it clear that I fully expect the board to engage with all local stakeholders as it further develops its plans. I have been advised that NHS Lothian is due to embark on a period of public consultation on this issue before it makes any final recommendation on the future of the service.

  I would hope that the board, as part of its consultation, would take account of the information provided in these answers about the value of homoeopathy as an aspect of our approach to integrative care.

Health

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a shift towards personalised services, as outlined in the Better Health, Better Care: Action Plan , should include homeopathic options.

Nicola Sturgeon: HDL(2005)37 indicates that a GP or hospital clinician may refer a patient for alternative treatment if satisfied of the value of the treatment and the competence of the practitioner. That advice remains extant. It is consistent with the person centred ambition in our quality strategy, which wants to see "Mutually beneficial partnerships between patients, their families and those delivering healthcare services which respect individual needs and values and which demonstrate compassion, continuity, clear communication and shared decision-making."

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of people affected by Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven hospital has changed since originally reported.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the view of the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry that 60 people were affected during the outbreak and that 38 people subsequently died.

Nicola Sturgeon: The inquiry’s investigations are ongoing and I understand that they are currently investigating the treatment of 60 patients at the Vale of Leven Hospital, including 38 deaths. That does not mean that the inquiry has concluded that the outbreak caused 38 deaths. The terms of reference provided the inquiry with a wide discretion to investigate the matter thoroughly.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress there has been in establishing common housing registers.

Alex Neil: The Common Housing Register (CHR) Support Service’s latest position study shows there were 18 operational CHRs in 2010. This compares with the position study for 2007 which showed there were 11. The 2010 CHR position study can be accessed at: 2010 CHR Position Study (SHBVN, August 2010).

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the implementation of common housing registers has led to a more accurate assessment of demand for social rented housing.

Alex Neil: In areas which operate a common housing register there is no longer any duplication across housing lists and this therefore provides a more accurate measure of housing demand within that area.

  However as not all areas currently have a common housing register there is still likely to be an element of double counting when looking at numbers on housing lists for Scotland as a whole.

  In order to maintain accurate and up to date lists, social housing providers are required to regularly review their lists to ensure that they include only those who still require a social house.

Housing

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many secure tenancies it estimates fall under the (a) modernised and (b) preserved right-to-buy scheme and what changes it estimates have occurred in these numbers since the coming into force of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

Alex Neil: The latest official figures show that there are around 285,300 dwellings owned and managed by local authorities that are considered to be normal letting stock. It is expected that all the households currently occupying these dwellings have either preserved rights, modernised rights or are serving the five year qualifying period leading to modernised right to buy eligibility. The breakdown of data for these categories is currently not held centrally. The Scottish Government is however working with local authorities to explore the possibility of collecting this breakdown and improving the information in this area.

  In addition to local authority tenants, registered social landlords (RSLs) have reported to the Scottish Housing Regulator that, as at 31 March 2010, 150,600 of their 265,400 tenancies qualify for either preserved or modernised right to buy. This figure can be broken down to show that 68,800 have preserved rights and 81,800 have modernised rights. The remainder are either exempt or are serving the qualifying period leading to modernised right to buy eligibility.

  The proportion of council or RSL tenants that have secure tenancies is not held centrally.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it designated for the Open Market Shared Equity scheme in 2009-10 and has designated for (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.

Alex Neil: In 2009-10, £60 million was allocated to the Open Market Shared Equity pilot. For 2010-11, a further £20 million was allocated to extend the Open Market Shared Equity pilot. For 2011-12, the Scottish Government will allocate around £5 million to the Open Market Shared Equity scheme.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it designated for the New Supply Shared Equity scheme in 2009-10 and has designated for (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.

Alex Neil: In 2009-10, the Scottish Government allocated £32.564 million for New Supply Shared Equity/Shared Ownership to housing associations. In 2010-11, the Scottish Government allocated £21.902 million to New Supply Shared Equity/Shared Ownership for housing associations and a further £2.5 million to the New Supply Shared Equity with Developers Trial. For 2011-12, the Scottish Government plans to allocate £8 million to the New Supply Shared Equity with Developers scheme. The Scottish Government has also announced a £50 million Innovative Investment Fund scheme. New housing for shared equity will be eligible for funding under this scheme. Applications for funding are currently due to be received at the end of May 2011 and details on allocations will be announced thereafter.

Ministerial Meetings

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of all meetings between cabinet ministers and the Scottish-Islamic Foundation since 1 January 2009, including the location and those (a) participating and (b) observing.

Alex Neil: No meetings have taken place between Scottish Government cabinet ministers and the Scottish-Islamic Foundation since 1 January 2009.

NHS Finance

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether information on the capital budget requirements for each community health partnership is held centrally.

Nicola Sturgeon: Capital requirements for community health partnerships form part of the overall capital planning arrangements for NHS boards. This information is only held centrally where it makes up part of the NHS board’s local delivery plan submission.

NHS Finance

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has requested each community health partnership to prepare a report of capital expenditure required in its area and rank the priorities.

Nicola Sturgeon: The capital expenditure of community health partnerships is a matter for their parent NHS health boards.

NHS Finance

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual running cost is of the communications office in (a) its directorate general for health and (b) each NHS board and how many employees there are in each.

Nicola Sturgeon: The running cost for the communications office located in the Health and Social Care Directorates is £146,463.

  Information on the running costs and the number of employees in each communications office in NHS boards is not held centrally.

NHS Hospitals

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion it has had with paediatric consultants regarding Glasgow’s new children’s hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: The design for the new children’s hospital has been in development since June 2006, and at every stage there has been involvement and communication between the project team for the new children’s hospital and all staff at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, including the paediatric consultants.

NHS Staff

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many student nurses have enrolled in each of the last five academic years.

Michael Russell: Published trend information showing nursing and midwifery student intake is available at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=Student_intakes_and_students_in_training%202010.x ls&pContentDispositionType=attachment.

NHS Staff

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the NHS strategy is for the recruitment of accident and emergency consultants.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards, as employers, are responsible for recruitment. Boards must adhere to the NHSScotland Staff Governance Standard and the Partnership Information Network (PIN) Policies. The PIN policies provide up-to-date guidance on a range of issues, including recruitment, and have been prepared on a partnership basis between NHSScotland management, trade unions, professional organisations and the Scottish Government. It is the responsibility of boards to determine the service requirements to meet the healthcare needs of their population and plan the workforce to deliver the service.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can give assurances that MS specialist nurse posts will be protected under the NHS budget settlement for 2010-11.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is fully committed to protecting the health budget by passing on Barnett consequentials in full from the UK settlement. However, it is for NHS boards to determine their workforce requirements, including specialist nurses, based on the clinical needs of the population and service developments in their area.

Pay

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of employees in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of male employees in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of female employees in each of the last three years for which information is available.

John Swinney: The preferred source for earnings estimates is the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), carried out by the Office for National Statistics.The following table shows the median gross weekly pay for employee by gender in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The median is the recommended measure of average earning.Median Gross Weekly Pay (£) for Employee Jobs in Scotland by Gender

  

Gender
Year


2008
 2009
2010


Male
465.70
471.00
483.00


Female
303.90
313.00
313.00


All
375.00
384.50
393.30



  Source: ASHE.Notes:1. The estimates are based on the earnings of employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.2. The estimates are based on a sample survey, and as such, are subject to sampling error.

Pay

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of full-time employees in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of full-time male employees in the public sector in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of full-time female employees in the public sector in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of full-time male employees in the private sector in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the median gross weekly pay has been of full-time female employees in the private sector in each of the last three years for which information is available.

John Swinney: The preferred source for earnings estimates is the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), carried out by the Office for National Statistics.The following table shows the median gross weekly pay for employee by gender in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The median is the recommended measure of average earning.Table 1 – Median Gross Weekly Pay (£) for Full-Time Employee Jobs in Scotland by Gender and Public/Private Sector Classification

  

Gender
Sector
Year


2008
 2009
2010


Male
Public 
548.10
565.60
579.60


Private 
485.20
480.00
495.10


Female
Public 
488.10
514.40
536.90


Private 
343.00
345.00
350.00


All
All 
462.60
472.80
488.20



  Source: ASHE.

  Notes:

  1. The estimates are based on the earnings of full-time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence.

  2. The estimates are based on a sample survey, and as such, are subject to sampling error.

Police

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can provide assurances that any future changes to police support services, such as the Scottish Police Services Authority, will be made in consultation with police boards and the procurator fiscal.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government launched a consultation on the future of Scottish policing on 10 February 2011 in order to widen the debate and build consensus about how we can maintain our excellent police service in the face of unprecedented cuts from Westminster. No decisions have been taken and we will continue to engage with all key stakeholders, including police authorities, and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, as we consider how our police service should respond to the challenges of the 21st century.

Police

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings the Cabinet Secretary for Justice had with (a) each chief or deputy chief constable, (b) each police board and (c) the director of the Scottish Police Services Authority to discuss the future of forensic services in Scotland prior to a decision being made.

Kenny MacAskill: I meet regularly with chief constables and conveners of police boards to discuss a range of matters. I chair the Scottish Policing Board which is attended by chief constables and conveners. In April 2010, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) gave a presentation to the Policing Board which covered the forensics modernisation programme. He also has regular meetings with the Convener of the SPSA.I gave careful consideration to the written submissions received from all eight forces and the two police boards that responded to the SPSA options paper published in July 2010, prior to a decision being made.

Rail Services

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38973 by Keith Brown on 3 February 2011, whether ScotRail has given a timetable for delivery of new Class 380 trains by Siemens.

Keith Brown: Yes, the Scottish Executive has received an indicative timetable for the delivery of the new class 380 trains. This is subject to ongoing discussion between ScotRail and the train manufacturer Siemens.

Road Safety

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) 25 to 50 and (b) 51 to 75 have been convicted of causing death or serious injury through dangerous driving in each of the last five years; how many have (i) received a lifetime ban and (ii) had their licence removed, and what the average period of disqualification was.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.There were no disqualifications for life during this period. Persons Convicted of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving 1 in Scottish Courts, 2005-06 to 2009-10

  

Causing Death by Dangerous Driving
2005-06
2006-07 
2007-08
  2008-09
2009-10


25 to 50
 
 
 
 
 


Convicted
10
4
10
10
10


Disqualified
10
3
9
10
6


Average disqualification2 (months)
90
6
80
88
76


51 to 75
 
 
 
 
 


Convicted
0
0
2
3
2


Disqualified
0
0
2
3
2


Average disqualification2 (months)
0
0
n/a
30
60



  Notes:1. Where main offence.2. Excludes disqualifications for an indeterminate period.

Road Safety

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) 25 to 50 and (b) 51 to 75 have been convicted of dangerous driving in each of the last five years; how many have (i) received a lifetime ban and (ii) had their licence removed, and what the average period of disqualification was.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.Persons Convicted of Dangerous Driving in Scottish Courts 1 , 2005-06 to 2009-10

  

Dangerous Driving
2005-06
2006-07 
2007-08
 2008-09
2009-10


25 to 50
 
 
 
 
 


Convicted
412
478
512
435
378


Disqualified
383
398
410
404
351


Of  which: Disqualified for life
6
7
1
0
0


Average disqualification2 (months)
23
26
26
25
26


51 to 75
 
 
 
 
 


Convicted
31
44
50
49
43


Disqualified
26
33
40
44
36


Of  which: Disqualified for life
0
0
0
0
2


Average disqualification2 (months)
23
27
18
18
27



  Notes:1. Where Main offence.2. Excludes disqualifications for an indeterminate period.

Road Safety

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) 25 to 50 and (b) 51 to 75 have been convicted of causing death or serious injury through dangerous driving in each of the last five years in the Lothian and Borders Police force area; how many have (i) received a lifetime ban and (ii) had their licence removed, and what the average period of disqualification was.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.There were no disqualifications for life during this period.Persons Convicted of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving 1 in Lothian and Borders, 2005-06 to 2009-10

  

Causing Death by Dangerous Driving
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


25 to 50
 
 
 
 
 


Convicted
3
1
0
1
0


Disqualified
3
1
0
1
0


Average disqualification2 (months)
n/a
n/a
0
n/a
0



  

Causing Death by Dangerous Driving
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


51 to 75
 
 
 
 
 


Convicted
0
0
1
0
0


Disqualified
0
0
1
0
0


Average disqualification2 (months)
0
0
n/a
0
0



  Notes:1. Where main offence.2. Excludes disqualifications for an indeterminate period.

Road Safety

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) 25 to 50 and (b) 51 to 75 have been convicted of dangerous driving in each of the last five years in the Lothian and Borders Police force area; how many have (i) received a lifetime ban and (ii) had their licence removed, and what the average period of disqualification was.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.There were no disqualifications for life during this period.Persons Convicted of Dangerous Driving in Lothian & Borders 1 , 2005-06 to 2009-10

  

Dangerous Driving
2005-06
2006-07 
2007-08
 2008-09
2009-10


25 to 50
 
 
 
 
 


Convicted
62
51
50
40
45


Disqualified
60
47
37
36
32


Average disqualification2 (months)
19
26
22
22
48


51 to 75
 
 
 
 
 


Convicted
3
8
11
5
4


Disqualified
3
7
7
3
1


Average disqualification2 (months)
n/a
36
13
12
n/a



  Notes:1. Where main offence.2. Excludes disqualifications for an indeterminate period.

Scottish Government Funding

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15067 by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2008, whether the grant conditions attached to the funding allocation of £215,000 to the Scottish-Islamic Foundation have all been adhered to.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is satisfied that grant conditions attached to the funding were adhered to. With regard to the IslamFest project, in line with the conditions attached to the grant, unused funds totalling £128,583.90 were repaid to the Scottish Government.

Scottish Government Funding

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38650 by Alex Neil on 26 January 2011, whether the fact that the accounts of the Scottish-Islamic Foundation were qualified by the auditors are sufficient grounds for the Scottish Government to seek the return of all funding granted to that organisation.

Alex Neil: The qualifications in the Scottish-Islamic Foundation’s accounts did not highlight any issues in relation to the use of Scottish Government funding. Therefore the qualifications were not sufficient grounds to seek the return of all funding granted by the Scottish Government.

Students

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an estimate of how much students from England who have attended Scottish universities and colleges have contributed to the economy during their studies in each of the last four years.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has no plans to make such an estimate.

Students

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an estimate of how much students from England who have attended Scottish universities and colleges have paid in council tax in each of the last four years.

Michael Russell: Students are exempt from paying council tax in Scotland, where they met the following criteria: aged either under or over 20 and are enrolled at a prescribed educational establishment for the purpose of undertaking a specified course of education which they are normally required to attend for at least 24 weeks in each academic year and which requires on average at least 21 hours of study, tuition or work experience in each of those weeks.

  Further guidance on how council tax applies to students in Scotland can be found at the following web address: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/localgov/ctst-00.asp.